The Far Shore of Time

Rating:
Summary: an 0.k book, i guess
Review: frederik pohl's book is a sequel to "siege of eternity" which i didn't read. (someone should write something about this sequal plague phenomena in todays sci-fi literature ..) since i haven't read the previous book, i left with some holes about the story plot. the story itself is very plain, there is planty of activity the there is a good flow of events. the story doesn't seem to be very reliable - the characters are very superficcial, and the eliens characters are quit redicoulous. the story is very plain and unclever (the way the aliens are being beatten) i don't think i'll read the next sequel (there will surely be one) - i give this story 3 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Pohl marking time
Review: I quite enjoyed the previous books in this series. But this last entry has the flaws more typically associated with a middle book. Relatively little happens and few if any new ideas are introduced. Because the premise of the series was the struggle to control the "eschaton" at the end of time, perhaps Pohl was discouraged by the mounting astronomical evidence that the universe will not collapse.

Rating:
Summary: Humorous light science fiction by a great storyteller.
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mostly because it doesn't take itself too seriously. For anyone familiar with the first two books in this series, or Pohl's numerous novels of the Heechee, these aren't "hard" science fiction-but rather stories with entertaining plots and speculation. The writing is reminiscent of Spider Robinson's early work and uses humor and bizarre characters to make the reader smile, and think. Recommended light reading.

Rating:
Summary: The Lion in Winter
Review: Let it be said at the outset that Frederik Pohl's Eschaton Sequence ("The Other End of Time," "The Siege of Eternity," and "The Far Shore of Time") does not represent Pohl at his peak. Each novel seems a good deal longer than it needs to be and, taken as a whole, the sequence could probably completely lose the second novel without any damage to the main ideas. The main story--an involved alien abduction/invasion saga involving two alien races, the so-called Beloved Leaders and the Horch--might, except for a few contemporary scientific notions, have been written fifty years ago. And it is indeed frustrating that the most potent concept in the novels--the idea of Heaven as a scientifically-verifiable state, or place, which all living things will enter after the "Big Crunch" collapse of the universe--remains almost totally undeveloped. In all, it must be admitted that these novels are not the place to start for a reader new to the works of Frederik Pohl.

And yet I give this book (and the other two) four stars. Why? Perhaps because all three represent such a marvelous time-traveling experience; for those of us who grew up on 1950s-style SF, it's wonderful to see that such work is still written and can still be published. The fact is, for all its bloat, The Eschaton Sequence is marvelously entertaining, with interesting characters and constant unexpected twists of plot. The books work on the most basic level: the reader wants to know what will happen next. And contrary to some opinions on this page, I immediately ran out and purchased "Siege of Eternity" and "Far Shore of Time" after reading the first in the sequence. It never crossed my mind not to finish all the novels; they are truly engrossing, as Frederik Pohl almost always is.

No, these books are not science fiction classics. And, in fact, the ending of "Far Shore of Time" leaves the question very much open as to whether or not the sequence is even finished--"Far Shore" is billed as the "conclusion," but there is plenty of room for another novel. With Pohl now over 80 years old, it's unclear whether this possible next novel will be written. But if it is, I will certainly purchase it the day it is released. Frederik Pohl, even at less than his best, is still better than 90% of the writers in the field; and at this point in his life and career, Mr. Pohl can surely be forgiven for not producing masterpieces. Anyone who knows SF knows how many he has already given us--"Gateway," "Man Plus," and "The Space Merchants" all jump immediately to mind. Consider the Eschaton novels as highly enjoyable minor dividends from a glorious career. The Lion in Winter still has a few good roars left in him.

Rating:
Summary: Pohl at his best
Review: Part of a true three novel trilogy Eschaton, including (The Other End of Time, The Siege of Eternity, The Far Shore of Time). This trio deals with first contact but Pohl couldn't let it be a simple aliens encounter, there are two different and of course warring alien alliances but that is as far as the "of course" goes. The leaders of earth first have to come to terms among themselves so they can choose correctly from slim, hidden and misleading evidences, which group of aliens is truthful and altruistic and which will conquer and enslave.
Besides the wonderful Sci-Fi and multitude of sentient beings there is a good study of the human psyche in captivity. Also a twist in dealing with unwanted clones; not knowing which is the original, if there is an original, which clone gets the spouse and like conundrums.
You have to stay alert to the fast pace and changing / multiplying cast. A very good read with interesting alien customs and biology's.

Rating:
Summary: I expected better
Review: There just isn't much to praise in this book. Standard aliens, standard plot, and one glaring scientific error at the end when Pohl's plot relies on methane having a greater density than average Earth atmosphere and sinking and pooling at the surface of the Earth-- in fact, methane has only about half the density of "air" and rises up through it. How does someone of Pohl's experience and stature make a freshmen chemistry mistake like this? Answer: it was a rushed book, and it shows.

Rating:
Summary: I expected better
Review: There just isn't much to praise in this book. Standard aliens, standard plot, and one glaring scientific error at the end when Pohl's plot relies on methane having a greater density than average Earth atmosphere and sinking and pooling at the surface of the Earth-- in fact, methane has only about half the density of "air" and rises up through it. How does someone of Pohl's experience and stature make a freshmen chemistry mistake like this? Answer: it was a rushed book, and it shows.

Rating:
Summary: Well-done story with fascinating characters.
Review: This is a very entertaining book. Lots of action and weird and wonderful characters, both alien and human copies. The images painted are imaginative, yet logical. My only minor compaint is that the ending seems a little rushed and too convenient. But overall this is an easy read, a good provocative sci-fi adventure.

Rating:
Summary: The best is last
Review: Though the third book in the Eschaton Sequence is in some ways the conclusion, Pohl leaves enough room so that more novels could be written about Dan Dannerman (well one of them at least). The third book introduces the Horch, in the form of Beert and his nest. The Docs are represented mostly by Pirraghiz, who acts as Dan's nurse and later becomes his friend. Wisely Pohl keeps the science mostly in the fictional realm, so not to overburden the reader. With over half of the book set in the "prison" camp that had been liberated by the Horch, and only the occasional appearance one of the other Dans, there was not nearly the confusion of characters, that are the same person (most of the confusion occurred when dealing with the Pats), which happen a lot in the second book. Ironically, the only drawback to the book was that most of the other characters from the other books did not make appearences.

Rating:
Summary: The best is last
Review: Though the third book in the Eschaton Sequence is in some ways the conclusion, Pohl leaves enough room so that more novels could be written about Dan Dannerman (well one of them at least). The third book introduces the Horch, in the form of Beert and his nest. The Docs are represented mostly by Pirraghiz, who acts as Dan's nurse and later becomes his friend. Wisely Pohl keeps the science mostly in the fictional realm, so not to overburden the reader. With over half of the book set in the "prison" camp that had been liberated by the Horch, and only the occasional appearance one of the other Dans, there was not nearly the confusion of characters, that are the same person (most of the confusion occurred when dealing with the Pats), which happen a lot in the second book. Ironically, the only drawback to the book was that most of the other characters from the other books did not make appearences.